BÄR supports VOX MARIS – the foundation dedicated to clean seas
Turning old into new: shoes made from fishing nets
“Imagine” by John Lennon is one of those songs that has never lost its relevance. After all, it is about always being able to dream of a better world—and about how everyone can do something to help make it happen. Shoes were probably not exactly what John Lennon had in mind when he wrote the song, but here too, we can make a positive difference. Considering that in Germany alone, women buy an average of six pairs of new shoes per year, and men two pairs, it becomes clear that choosing the right shoes can make a valuable contribution. Namely, when shoes are produced sustainably, manufactured to a high standard, and therefore durable and repairable. BÄR’s latest commitment is aimed at contributing a small part to cleaning up the oceans. That is why we are supporting the VOX MARIS project with a generous donation.
Background: The sea is polluted with millions of tonnes of plastic, and the trend is rising, causing suffering to people, animals, and plants. We must do something about this—for example, we can work together to combat marine pollution and support local communities and the circular economy. In this spirit, as a sponsor and cooperation partner, we support the VOX MARIS project, whose commitment is particularly close to our hearts:
The project of the non-profit BioDesign Foundation collects fishing nets discarded in the Mediterranean, along with the plastic “caught” in the nets, such as bottles, canisters, and bags. Containers are set up near ports and fish markets, where fishermen can deliver their fishing waste, which is then weighed and compensated. Since the foundation was established in April 2021, more than 130,000 kg of fishing nets and other fishing equipment have already been collected in Chioggia. The ambitious goal for this year is to reduce the number of nets discarded in the Italian Mediterranean to zero. The plastic waste is not destroyed, but instead taken to processing facilities that sort, clean, process, and reshape it—for example, into textile yarn. New products can be made from this yarn without consuming new resources.
SEAQUAL® YARN is also a high-quality yarn made entirely from recycled polyester, whose physical properties are almost identical to those of new polyester. The SEAQUAL INITIATIVE brings individuals, organizations, and companies together with the aim of cleaning our oceans, raising awareness of the problem of plastic waste, and recycling plastic waste—among other things, in the clothing industry. SEAQUAL® YARN contains around ten percent recycled plastic waste from the world’s oceans and ninety percent plastic waste from land-based sources.
As mentioned: turning old into new—to make our world a little better, cleaner, and more sustainable. We can all do something!
In cooperation with SEAQUAL® SEAQUAL® YARN is used and further processed into the shoe "PITO"; the upper is made of 100% recycled materials: 90% from PET bottles and 10% from SEAQUAL® MARINE PLASTIC.
